Banks Directed To Disburse Pension Expeditiously Amid COVID-19: Report

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Friday that banks have been instructed to disburse pension expeditiously to ensure "ease of living" for the elderly amid the pandemic

Banks have been instructed to disburse pension expeditiously to ensure "ease of living" for the elderly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Friday. Instructions have also been issued that in case of death of a pensioner, the spouse or the family member should not be subjected to any inconvenience by seeking unnecessary details and documents, and instead the family pension should be disbursed at the earliest, he said. Briefing about a circular issued by the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare, Singh said that some instances have been brought to the notice of the department wherein on the death of a pensioner, the family members were asked by the disbursing banks to submit various details and documents, which are otherwise not required for commencement of family pension. He said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to ensuring "ease of living" for all, including the pensioners, and therefore, such inconvenience to the elderly citizens has to be avoided, particularly during the time of the pandemic, according to a Personnel Ministry statement. In a communique to the heads to all pension disbursing banks, it has been instructed that without causing harassment to the family members of the pensioner, the family pension should be commenced on the production of the death certificate and in case where the pensioner had a joint account with his or her spouse, submission of a simple letter or application should suffice.